Emerging international issues in health diplomacy a case study of Kenya

Abstract

Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representative of groups or states. Health Diplomacy is the multi-level negotiation processes that shape and manage the global policy environment for health. This concept developed and matured over recent decades, and policymakers and researchers now are familiar with the term Global Health Diplomacy. In recent years, health has risen as a strategic foreign policy and diplomatic concern for many countries and regions of the world. This study aims to establish the status of Health Diplomacy as an international issue with a specific focus on Kenya. These study aims to step-up Health Diplomacy within Kenya and the concerned Ministries, it aims to raise awareness on international health-related issues and opportunities. The study’s main objective was to establishes and evaluate the status of Health Diplomacy as an international issue with a specific focus on Kenya. With specific objectives of determining the policy on Health Diplomacy in Kenya, as an aspect of Global Health Diplomacy, establish the practice on Health Diplomacy in Kenya and establish the existing evidence and trends on Health Diplomacy in Kenya. The study collected Primary data was collected using participant observation and questionnaire interview of key informant, from key Kenyan government ministries. The collected data was sorted and analyzed using document analysis and thematic analysis techniques, based on the emerging issues under study. The study was able to determine the status of health diplomacy policy, the key state and non-state actors and the practice of health diplomacy in Kenya. The study was able to identify the gap in global health diplomacy in Kenya and the challenges faced.